Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Timberline’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Timberline’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white, within the labellum there is yellow and some red/purple; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Timberline’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Timberline’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red- brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Timberline’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Timberline’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘amabilis’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Stardust’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Timberline’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in July, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Timberline’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white, within the labellum there is yellow         and some red/purple;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Timberline’, the flowers of the female parent ‘amabilis’ are 7 cm in size. The flowers of the male parent ‘Stardust’ are about 11 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘Timberline’ are about 10 cm in size.

Presently, the most similar commercial cultivar to which ‘Timberline’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘Silver Light’ (patented, U.S. Pat. No. 24,837.) The petals of ‘Timberline’ are a bit larger than the petals of ‘Silver Light’. The color of the sepals of ‘Timberline’ is white, whereas the color of the sepals of ‘Silver Light’ is white with a yellow/green and purple haze. Also, the cirrhi of ‘Silver Light’ is larger and has a different shape than the cirrhi of ‘Timberline’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Timberline’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Timberline’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Timberline’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Timberline’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Timberline’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Timberline’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Timberline’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Timberline’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Timberline’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Timberline’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Timberline’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Timberline’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘amabilis’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Stardust’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Approximately 4 mm-6 mm wide             and green (RHS NN155D/138D) in color; freely branching. It             takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to             initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 50 to 60 cm. Spread: about 40 to 50 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Standard; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1 to 2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 5 to 8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval.         -   Apex.—Mostly rounded; blunt and slightly asymmetric.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 13 to 18 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 8 to 10 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—RHS N137A.         -   Mature leaf color (under surface).—RHS 137B.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper surface             RHS N137A, under surface RHS 147A. -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 8 to 12.         -   Length.—About 53 and 60 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 to 6 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—Dark green (RHS 147A).         -   Internode.—Length: about 35 to 45 mm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 to 30 mm. Diameter             (at midpoint): about 15 to 25 mm. Shape: oval/egg-shaped.             Color: green (RHS 144D).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold- treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1 to             2 racemes appear with about 8 to 12 flower buds and flowers             per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected             approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a             leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis orchid; see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom):             Height: about 75 to 85 mm. Diameter: about 95 to 105 mm.             Depth of tube: about 15 mm. Quantity and arrangement: three             petals and three sepals that are trimerous, overlapping and             arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are more pronounced than             sepals.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2             lateral petals and labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall             shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped. Apex: oval. Base:             broadly ovate. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Length:             about 55 to 60 mm. Width: about 45 mm. Texture: Upper             surface: smooth and satiny. Under surface: smooth and             satiny. Color (when fully opened) upper surface and under             surface: White (RHS NN155C). Labellum: Overall shape:             3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of             the lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of             labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends             forward and is terminated by 2 filiform appendages at the             apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while             the midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Apex:             Lateral lobes: oval. Midlobe: truncate to emarginate;             terminating in cirrhi. Base: Lateral lobes: broadly ovate.             Midlobe: truncate. Margin: entire and weakly undulate.             Length: about 25 mm. Width (not flattened): about 25 mm.             Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             (when fully opened): Main color is white (RHS NN155C). At             the base of the mid lobe yellow (RHS 6B) with in the center             and on the upper edges some purple (RHS N79B). Lateral lobes             are white (RHS NN155C) with on the lower edges yellow (RHS             6B) and at the base some red/purple stripes (RHS 60A). Under             surface of midlobe is the same as the upper surface without             the purple in the center. Cirrhi: long (about 17 mm). Color:             white (RHS NN155C) and from the half yellow (RHS 6B). Pestle             (callosities): Length: about 5 mm. Width (not flattened):             about 7 mm. Height: about 8 mm. Color: Yellow (RHS 7A) with             red/purple stripes and spots (RHS 60S).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall             shape: elliptical and weakly cupped. Length: about 40 to             50 mm. Width: about 25 to 35 mm. Margin: smooth edges.             Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             upper & under surface (when fully opened): white (RHS             NN155C). On the under surface there is a yellow haze (RHS             154C).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 50 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm. Color:             Yellow/green (RHS 144C) and purple (RHS N79B). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 15 mm. Diameter: about 7 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two. Size: about 1 mm. Color: orange             (RHS 24A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 5 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155C). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Timberline’, as illustrated and described herein. 